Rechargeable flashlight unit



Maly 10, 1966 s. c. OLDENBURGER 3, 50, 0

RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1964 INVENTOR.

$441054 6'. Ozaewamease,

4 r-raeA/sys.

y 0, 1966 s. c. QLDENBURGER 3,250,909

RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT UNIT Filed May 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR. Sfi/WZ/IEL 6: 0L DEA 508656,

y 1966 s. c. OLDENBURGER 3, 5

RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT UNIT Filed May 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 93 P76. 1.1. f -jfl 97 96 90 94 93 9 FIG. 12. 7 96 97 I NVENTOR. $444054 6. 04 DEN aueaee,

United States Patent 3,250,909 RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT UNIT Samuel Carl Oldenburger, New York, N.Y., assiguor, by mesne assignments, to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conm, a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,765 9 Claims. (Cl. 240--10.6)

very compact in size, and being provided with readily accessible means for focusing its lamp-element.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved water proof rechargeable flashlight unit adapted to be mounted on a head band and to be worn by a swimmer, or to be employed by other persons requiring the use of a head band-mounted lamp unit, the device being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, being adjustable through a wide range of angular positions, and being provided with means for easily detaching the main lamp assembly from the supporting portion of the unit for the purpose of recharging the batteries of the unit or for any other purpose.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved rechargeable flashlight unit adapted either to be mounted in a head band for use by a person requiring his hands to be free, or adaptable for being merely supported on a flat surface, the unit being easy to manipulate for turning it on and off or for adjusting the position of its lamp element with respect to its reflector, being neat in appearance, and being provided with batteries arranged in a radial configuration around the reflector so as to utilize the internal space in the casing of the unit to maximum advantage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved flashlight unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown detached from its supporting head band so that it may be mounted on a flat surface.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the flashlight unit of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the main portion of the flashlight unit shown connected to a conventional charger unit adapted to be plugged into a standard domestic alternating current supply receptacle.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the supporting stand or bracket employed with the main portion of the flashlight assembly shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical cross section View taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged longitudinal .vertical' cross sectional view taken through the main member of the flashlight assembly of FIGURES l, 2 and 3, shown with the switch-operating member thereof in a retracted posi- -tion so that the lamp element of the unit is deenergized.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view, similar to FIGURE 7, but showing the switch-operating member in an inwardly advanced position where by to energize the lamp element of the assembly and to move it forwardly relative to the reflector.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing a complete head band-mounted flashlight assembly employing the unit shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational fragmentary view showing the head band employed in the complete assembly of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical wiring connecting the various internal elements of the main portion of the flashlight assembly of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a rechargeable flashlight assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and of a type particularly adapted to be mounted on a head band for use by a swimmer or other person requiring free use of his hands. Thus, the assembly 11 comprises a main flashlight unit 12 and a supporting stand 13 with which the main unit 12 is detachably engageable. The stand 13 comprises an arcuately curved base portion 14 of generally rectangular shape formed with a central rectangular aperture 15 and integrally formed with parallel arms 16, 16 extending from opposite ends of the base 13 adjacent the transverse end edges of the aperture 15. The arms 16, 16 are of substantial length and are somewhat flexible, for a purpose presently to be explained.

The arcuate main body portion 14 of base 13 is integrally formed with a pair of reinforcing ribs 17, 17 located adjacent to and extending parallel to the longitudinal side edges of the rectangular central aperture '15. The ribs 17, 17 make the base-portion 15 relatively stiff 'so that it does not easily change its curvature.

The end portions of the arcuate member 15 areformed externally adjacent the arms 16, 16 with respective transversely extending head band-receiving slots 19, 19 which are respectively connected with the transverse end edges of member 14 by short longitudinal slots 20, 20 to facilitate the insertion of the associated head band strap into the slots 19, 19.

The arms 16, 16 are formed at their top ends with in wardly projecting pivot pins 21, 21 and are provided with resilient deformable friction washers 22, 22 which surround said pins 21, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The main unit 12 of the assembly 1 1 comprises a housing of generally cylindrical shape consisting of a pair of mating housing segments 26 and 24, the front segment 23 being formed with a stepped edge 25 which mates with the reversely stepped edge 26 of the rear housing segment 24, enabling the front and rear housing segments 23 and 24 to be tightly fitted together and suitably secured, for example, by means of suitable cement so as to form a hermetically sealed unit. The front segment 23 is formed with an inturned annular front flange 27 defining a seat which receives the marginal portion of a circular transparent window lens 28. The rear segment 24 has a rear Wall 29 formed with an inwardly offset central portion 30 which is centrally apertured and to which is secured the reduced inner end 31 of a sleeve member 32 integrally formed with the flashlight reflector $3. The reflector 36 is thus rigidly secured by means of the reduced inner end portion 31 of sleeve 32 to the rear wall 29 of the rear housing segment 24 and is held in a position such that its peripheral flange 34 bears tightly against the marginal portion of the lens window 28, thus sea'lingly pressing said lens window marginal portion against the annular flange 27.

An annular mass 35 of sponge rubber is secured in the rear portion of segment 24 sealing-1y surrounding sleeve 3-2, said sponge rulbber mass 35 serving as a resilient cushally arranged rechargeable batteries 36 in the space around the sleeve 32, as is shown in FIGURE 7. Thus, the batteries 36, which are of conventional design, have annular ribs 37 which are supported at their forward portions on an internal annular shoulder 38 integrally formed in the forward housing section 23, the diametrically opposite portion of the rib 37 engaging in the inner portion of the annular sponge rubber mass in the manner shown in FIGURE 7, whereby the elastic reaction of the sponge rubber holds the batteries 36 in inclined positions adjalcent the reflector 33 and sleeve 32, spaced around the inner peripheries of the respective housing segments 2-3 and 24.

The reflector 33 is centrally apertured at 40, defining an annular inwardly projecting flange 41 at the forward end of sleeve 32. A conventional flashlight bulb 42 extends through the aperture 40, the bulb having a shell portion 43 and a flange 44 at the forward end of said shell portion. Surrounding the bulb 42 and interposed between the flange 44 and the flange 41 is a warped circular spring 45 which acts on the flange 44 to bias the bulb 42 rearwardlya Sleeve 32 is formed with internal threads 46, and

threadedly engaged therein are the respective segments of a split sleeve member 47 formed integrally with an external operating knob 48 located externally adjacent rear wall 29 of the rear housing segment 24. Secured in the annular seat defined by the offset central portion 30 of rear wall 29 is an annular contact ring 49. Surrounding and secured on the sleeve portion 47 adjacent the knob 48 is a contact ring 50 having a pair of inlclined resilient contact fingers 51, 51 at diametrically opposite peripheral portion-s thereof which are engageable with the ring 49 when the sleeve 47 is screwed inwardly in the sleeve 32. The contact ring 50 is formed with an inwardly projecting center contact arm 52 which is engageable with the center contact 53 of the lamp 42 when the sleeve 47 is screwed inwardly. The center contact 52 is flexed inwardly into engagement with the lamp center contact 53 by an inwardly projecting axial center lug 55 integrally formed on the knob 48- which acts as a positive abutment means engageable against the contact arm 52 for holding the contact arm in firm electrical contact with the lamp center contact 53 against the opposing biasing force exerted on the lamp .by the warped circular spring 45. Thus, when the knob 48 is in its retracted or unscrewed position, shown in FIGURE 7, the contact arm 52 is disengaged from the lamp center contact 53. When the knob is rotated to advance the sleeve member 47 inwardly in the sleeve member 32, the lug 55 supports the contact 52 to hold said contact arm 52 in firm electrical engagement with the lamp center contact 53, as above described. This position of knob 48 and sleeve 47 is illustrated in FIGURE 9. It will be seen that under these conditions the flange 44 of the lamp causes the biasing spring 45 to assume a flattened condition. It will be further noted that as the knob 48 is rotated to advance the sleeve 47 in the sleeve 32, the filament 56 of the lamp is moved forwardly relative to the reflector 83, so that the focusing is varied, whereby to provide projected spot lights of different size and intensity.

A resilient deformable sealing ring 60 is seated in an annular groove formed in sleeve 47 forwardly adjacent the contact ring 50, the ring 60 being sealingly engageable with the reduced inner end 31 of sleeve 32 when the sleeve 47'is screwed inwardly by knob 48, for example, substantially to the position ofFIGURE 9.

The housing segments 23 and 24 are formed with bottom mating portions 61 and 62 formed to define a recess 63 in which is mounted a plate-like insulating member 64 carrying a pair of battery recharging prongs 65 and 66. The recess 63 is adapted to receive the conventional charging log of a standard recharging unit 67 with the prongs 65 and 66 engaged in the sleeve terminals of charging unit 67. The unit 67 is provided with the standard contact prongs 68 and 69 which are nected rechargeable batteries 36, shown at '72 and 73.

Terminal 72 is connected by a wire 74 to the warped resilient ring 45, whereas terminal 73 is connected by a wire 75 to the contact ring 49. From FIGURE 13 it will be seen that when the resilient contact arms 51 engage the ring 49 and the contact arm 52 engages the center contact 53 of lamp 42, the lamp will be energized by .the series-connected batteries 36 through the conductive contact of flange 44 with ring 45. When the batteries 36 require recharging, they "can be recharged by means of the conventional recharging unit 67 with the assembly 12 mounted thereon in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The mating housing segments 23 and 24 are formed at diametrically opposite side portions thereof with mating semi-circular lug elements and 81 formed to define central pivot recesses 82 in which the pins 21 are receivable. Thus the main flashlight unit 12 is pivotally mounted on the pins 21, 21, the spring force of the arms 16, 16 urging the friction washers 22, 22 against the lugs defined by the mating lug elements 80, 81, so that the main flashlight unit 12 is supported in any desired position of angular adjustment and held in said position by the frictional force exerted thereon by arms 16, 16, through the washers 22, 22. The arms 16, 16 are sufficiently flexible to allow easy removal of the main flashlight unit 12 whenever desired, for example, for the purpose of recharging the batteries 36 in the manner above described.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the assembly 11 is arranged for connection to an elastic head band so that the flashlight assembly 11 may be supported on the users head in a forwardly facing position, enabling the user to have free use of his hands. Thus, the head band 90 comprises an elastic main body of suitable elasticized webbing, orthe like, of a width to fit through the slots 19, 19 of base element 14. The strap 91 is engaged through the slots 19 in the manner shown in dotted view in FIGURE 6.

The brand 90 is provided at one end with a tubular hem 92 in which is secured the bight portion of a generally triangular clasp segment 93 provided at its apex with a male snap fastener element 94. The opposite end of the head band 91 is similarly formed with a tubular hem 95 in which is secured the bight portion of a triangular clasp member 96 whose apex is provided with a female snap fastener element 97. The male snap fastener element 94 is lockingly receivable in the female snap fastener element 97 so as to connect the two clasp segments 93 and 96 together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11. With the flashlight assembly 11 connected to the head band 90, as shown in FIGURE 11, the assembly may be worn by a swimmer or other person requiring illumination in front of him, allowing the wearer to have free use of his hands. 7 -As shown in FIGURE 3, sufficient clearance is provided so that the unit 11 may be adjusted to any desired angle around the axis defined by the pivot pins 21, 21, and also the bulbs 42 may be adjustably focused in the manner above described, providing a spot of light of any desired intensity or dispersion, within the range available by the axial movement of the filament 56 relative to the associated reflector 33. As shown in FIGURE 7, the shoulder 38 is provided only at the bottom of the housing segment 23, for supporting the lowermost battery 36 in-the inclined position shown therein. The other batteries 36 are similarly supported in inclined position arranged radially around the axis of the unit with their flanges 37 engaged against the inside surface of the main cylindrical cavity in the segment 23 and are held in engagement with the reflector 33 by the resiliency of the sponge rubber mass 35. 7

It will be noted that the main flashlight unit 12 is pivotally adjustable on the pins 21, 21 and can be arranged either in a position substantially parallel to the arms 16, 16, for example, as shown in FIGURE 1, or in a position substantially perpendicular to said arms 16, as

' shown in FIGURE 11. It will be also apparent that the device may be employed without the head band 90, for example, as in FIGURE 1, and may be supported on any horizontal supporting surface.

In any desired position of adjustment of the main flashlight unit 12 relative to the arms 16, 16, the control knob 48 is readily accessible for operation.

While a specific embodiment of an improved flashlight assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear Wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a contact shell portion and a rear center contact element, means in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of-said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, a contact ring fixedly mounted on said rear wall concentrically therewith and connected to the other terminal of said source, and a contact element on the switchoperating member slidably engaging said contact ring and being located to engage said center contact element responsive to inward rotational movement of said switchoperating member.

2. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front Wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear Wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a contact shell portion and a rear center contact element, conductive spring means in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, and means to connect said center contact element to the othe'rterminal of said source responsive to inward rotational movement of said switchoperating member.

3. A flashlight assembly comprising .a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a contact shell portion and a rear center contact element, conductive springmeans in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating mem ber threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, a contact ring fixedly mounted on said rear wall concentrically therewith and connected to the other terminal of said source, and a contact element on the switch-operating member slidably engaging said contact ring and being located to engage said center contact element responsive to inward rotational movement of said switch-operating member, whereby to connect said center contact element to the other terminal of the source and to move the lamp bul-b forwardly against the biasing force of said spring means.

4. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantialy into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, a warped resilient metal ring member in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, .and means to connect said center contact element to the other terminal of said source responsive to inward rotational movement of said switchoperating member.

5. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projetcing centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a flanged shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, means in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging the flange of said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, a contact ring fixedly mounted on said rear wall concentrically therewith and connected to the other terminal of said source, and a contact element on the switch-operating member slidably engaging said contact ring and being located to engage said center contact element responsive to inward rotational movement of said switch-opertaing member.

6. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a flanged shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, a warped resilient metal ring member in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging the flange of said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaging said sleeve member, a contact ring fixedly mounted on said rear wall concentrically therewith and connected to the other terminal of said source, and a contact element on the switch-operating member slidably engaging said contact ring and being located to engage said center contact element responsive to inward rotational movement of said switch-operating member, whereby to connect said center contact element to said other terminal of the source and to move the lamp bulb forwardly against the biasing force of said ring member.

7. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending'forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said refiector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, conductive spring means in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion and, biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member and slidably receiving said shell contact portion, and means -to connect said center contact element to the other terminal of said source responsive to inward rotational movement of said switchoperating member.

8. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a source of current in said housing adjacent said sleeve member, said lamp bulb having a flanged shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, a warped resilient metal ring member in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging the flange of said shell contact portion and biasing said lamp bulb rearwardly, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member and slidably receiving said shell contact portion, a contact ring fixedly mounted on said rear wall concentrically therewith and connected to the other terminal of said source, and a contact element on the switch-operating member slidably engaging said contact ring and being located to engage said center contact element responsive 'to inward rotational movement of said switch-operating member, whereby to connect said center contact element to said other terminal of the source and to move the lamp bulb forwardly against the biasing force of said warped resilient metal ring member.

9. A flashlight assembly comprising a housing having a transparent front wall, a substantially annular side wall and an annular rear wall, .a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting axially inwardly from said rear wall, a mass of resilient deformable material in the rear portion of said housing surrounding said sleeve member, a reflector secured to said sleeve member and extending forwardly substantially into engagement with said front Wall, a lamp bulb movably mounted in said sleeve member and projecting centrally into said reflector, a plurality I of interconnected batteries disposed radially around said sleeve member with their rear portions engaging said mass of deformable material and their forward portions wedged between the reflctor and th forward portion of said annular side Wall and defining a source of current having two terminals, said lamp bulb having a shell contact portion and a rear center contact element, means in the forward end of said sleeve member connected to one terminal of said source and conductively engaging said shell contact portion, a switch-operating member threadedly engaged in said sleeve member, and means to connect said center contact element to the other terminal of said source responsive to inward rotational movement of said switch-operating member.

NORTON ANSI-1BR, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

J. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. 

9. A FLASHLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A TRANSPARENT FRONT WALL, A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR SIDE WALL AND AN ANNULAR REAR WALL, A SLEEVE MEMBER RIGIDLY SECURED TO AND PROJECTING AXIALLY INWARDLY FROM SAID REAR WALL, A MASS OF RESILIENT DEFORMABLE MATERIAL IN THE REAR PORTION OF SAID HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, A REFLECTOR SECURED TO SAID SLEEVE MEMBER AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FRONT WALL, A LAMP BULB MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE MEMBER AND PROJECTING CENTRALLY INTO SAID REFLECTOR, A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED BATTERIES DISPOSED RADIALLY AROUND SAID SLEEVE MEMBER WITH THEIR REAR PORTIONS ENGAGING SAID MASS OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL AND THEIR FORWARD PORTIONS WEDGED BETWEEN THE REFLECTOR AND THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID ANNULAR SIDE WALL AND DEFINING A SOURCE OF CURRENT HAVING TWO TERMINALS, SAID LAMP BULB HAVING A SHELL CONTACT PORTION AND A REAR CENTER CONTACT ELEMENT, MEANS IN THE FORWARD END OF SAID SLEEVE MEMBER CONNECTED TO ONE TERMINAL OF SAID SOURCE AND CONDUCTIVELY ENGAGING SAID SHELL CONTACT PORTION, A SWITCH-OPERATING MEMBER THREADEDLY ENGAGED IN SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, AND MEANS TO CONNECT SAID CENTER CONTACT ELEMENT TO THE OTHER TERMINAL OF SAID SOURCE RESPONSIVE TO INWARD ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH-OPERATING MEMBER. 